Tightening up rules on converting family homes to HMOs ‘received very positively’

Earlier this year Bolton Council brought in immediate new rules that mean all new plans to create houses in multiple occupancy, will need full planning permission.

A council cabinet meeting earlier this month agreed that this harder line approach be continued and that this should factor into the next steps in policies on how to deal with HMOs in the future.

Council deputy leader Cllr Akhtar Zaman said: “The feedback that the council has received from Bolton residents was mainly very positive.

“People are happy that we’ve done this and that will help setup how we assess HMOs.”

The council cabinet met at Bolton Town Hall (Image: Anthony Moss)

He added: “The real reaction from the general public was very positive because it will help improve housing standards in terms of HMOs and it will also give the council the opportunity to examine applications more thoroughly.

“So, it’s about the quality of housing but its also about the proliferation of HMOs in certain areas of Bolton.

“I am aware of certain areas where this has been a concern and then there are all the associated issues that come with it as well, sometimes parking is an issue.

“So it gives the council the opportunity to examine a HMO application, no matter what the size of it may be.”

Before the new Article 4 rules were introduced in June this year, plans to convert houses into HMOs for up to six people were classed as “permitted development”.

But now all bids to create HMOs will need full planning permission regardless of size and regardless of which individuals or organisations are aiming to create them.

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The key findings of the council’s survey on the new Article 4 rules found that 83 people responding agreed strongly with them being introduced.

This was compared to 15 people who strongly disagreed, three who agreed and one person who responded with no opinion.

The council cabinet heard how officers would now need to develop a policy in the new Bolton Local Plan to address HMOs and other kinds of conversions.

Bolton Council’s cabinet agreed to note the report, including the next steps for developing policy and guidance.

Source – INDIA TV